Homestays Grenada?

GRENADA - CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE

GRENADA - AN INTRODUCTION

Grenada is actually a tri-island state, comprising of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Grenada is 21 miles long by 12 wide, with a population of 95,000. The islands are situated in the southern region of the Windward Islands, in the Eastern Caribbean. It is an English-speaking nation, because it was colonised most recently by Britain, but the local dialect reflects the historical impact of the French. It is well-served by flights from the U.K., such as British Airways, Monarch and Virgin Atlantic, and also by flights from the U.S. like American Airlines and Delta.

Carriacou and Petite Martinique are considerably smaller and have a combined population of 7,000. Grenada is a quiet and considerably unspoilt destination, with a slow pace and relaxed outdoor way of life.

carriacou_0.JPG (60307 bytes)

Grenada is a nature lovers' paradise, with beautiful beaches, waterfalls and lush tropical vegetation. Temperatures range from 75F/24C to 87F/30C with the rainy season from June to November. A typical shower, however, only lasts less than one hour. Light cotton clothing is adequate, with a light sweater in case of cool evenings around Christmas time. Long trousers are useful both for hiking and for formal occasions.

The rainy season runs typically from May through November, and the dry season from December through April. Grenada does not get routinely battered by hurricanes, but since hurricane Ivan in 2004 and hurricane Emily 2005 had such a devastating impact on the infrastructure and agriculture, disaster preparedness is taken much more seriously. There is a series of designated shelters throughout the tri-island state.

Grenada suffered the most devastation particularly during and after Ivan. Over 90% of buildings were damaged, many severely, and although it has come a long way, there is some work to be done to finish the rebuilding process and reconstruct the agricultural sector. Much of the nutmeg and cocoa crop was lost and it will take years to grow back. If you can help the reconstruction effort in any way, do let us know!

GRENADA - ITS HISTORY

The original people

The recorded history of Grenada dates back to the early 1600's. The original people, subsistence agriculturalists, are thought to have come by canoe from the Orinoco Basin in what is now Venezuela in the first century AD. The Arawak people followed in the sixth century, who named the island Ciboney. The next wave of immigrants were the 'Caribs', who arrived in the fifteenth century and conquered the Arawak nation and renamed the place Camerhogne. European history has described the Caribs as 'cannibals' but there is no proof that this was the case. Their correct historical name is the Kalinago. Christopher Columbus sailed by on the Santa Maria and gave the name Concepcion, in honour of the Madonna. This is reflected on the coat of arms with a Madonna lily. The area is still sometimes referred to as the "West Indies"; a legacy of Columbus thinking he was on his way to India!

The colonists

The French arrived in the early 1600's and after being fought off on numerous occasions by the Caribs they made a violent entrance by almost wiping out the entire Amerindian population. Sauteurs ('Leapers' in French), in St.Patrick's is renowned to be where the last of the Carib people leapt to their death rather than be enslaved by the French. Some Carib people, however, did live on and intermingled with the incoming African population, forming Maroon societies in some of the most inaccesible areas of Grenada.

Slavery

As the enslavement of the Caribs did not work out for the French, nor European indentured labour, they turned to Africa for their free labour. African people were captured in West Africa and brought to Grenada as in the entire region in the infamous slave trade and forced to work in brutal and degrading conditions. They began to arrive in Grenada soon after the establishment of French rule.

French/British struggle

There was a power struggle between the French and the British over a period of years. In 1762 the French surrendered to a British squadron and Grenada remained under British control until the French recaptured it in 1779. However the Treaty of Versailles 1783 handed it back (including Carriacou and Petite Martinique) to the British. In 1795/6 the Fedon rebellion occurred which almost led to emancipation at that time.

The Fedon Rebellion

Julien Fedon, a French-African planter allied with other 'free coloured' and slaves to overthrow the British. The French agreed to free all slaves at that time. The fact that Fedon allied with the slaves in Grenada shows that the underlying cause of the armed struggle that began in 1795 was the injustices of the slave system, not just a French-British conflict which is often put forward. Fedon, after 15 months of struggle almost succeeded in his task, but a large British force attacked from outside and eventually overcame the rebels.

Emancipation

The slave trade was abolished in 1833, however, the planters tried to keep the ex-slaves in a system of unpaid apprenticeship and repression. The majority of farmers, though, became independent farmers. Groups of indentured servants were brought in to take over the slaves' labour on the plantations, some Yoruba, some from Madeira and Malta. Labourers arrived from India during 1856-1861 and the majority of them stayed on and became farmers. After emancipation a third of the adult male population were smallholders and the rest working on the estates in a feudal relationship.

The early 20th century

Protests came from the newly-emergent middle-class, challenging the British Crown and the planter class during the early part of the twentieth century. T. A. Marryshow was an important intellectual figure with a concern for the poor and holding to the ideas of Caribbean unity and African pride. Unions were allowed in the 1930's but the working class did not ally with this mainly middle-class movement.

Gairy and Independence

Eric Gairy in the 1950's became the spokesman for the working class and peasantry. He rallied the masses in the country in a General Strike in 1951. Universal Suffrage had just come in and Gairy won the election. He became the Chief Minister of State in 1961, the Premier with Associated Statehood in 1967 and the first Prime Minister in 1974. However, he went on to create a repressive regime with economic deterioration and in March 1979 in a coup the socialist New Jewel Movement took over with Maurice Bishop at its head.

Revolution, Invasion and Since...

The Revolution, or 'Revo' as it was called, made great strides in the areas of health and education and social cooperation, with the help of Cuba. However, during this four-year period detentions became more common and eventually on October 19, 1983 a more radical wing of the party took over, killing Bishop and many of his supporters. The American government launched their famous 'rescue mission' and installed an interim government until elections the following year.

Grenada has been a democracy since, with several changes of government. Elections in July 2008 brought a change of government, with the ruling New National Party voted out in favour of the National Democratic Congress with Tillman Thomas at its head.

CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE

The mixture of African, East Indian, French and British influences has left an interesting mixture seen in the folklore, dialect, music and general way of life.

Agriculture and industry

The majority of Grenadians are employed in agriculture whether as small farmers or estate workers. The main export crops are cocoa, nutmeg and mace. The banana industry has ground to a halt due to outside pressures. Since hurricanes Ivan and Emily, more hurricane resistant nutmeg trees have been introduced. A solar-powered chocolate factory has been developed and is in operation in the north of the island. There have been moves to diversify into other kinds of fruit and vegetables and tropical flowers. Genetically-engineered crops have been introduced in the last few years by the U.S. and China, but most people still plant in the traditional way. There have been some encouraging strides in agro-processing and production of juices and health products, which was originally started in the Revolution but was dismantled immediately after. There is very little industry in Grenada, however, there is some assembly work, data processing and garment manufacture. The government is keen to improve the nation's skills in computer literacy and information technology.

Tourism

Tourism as an industry is growing more and more. The majority of the hotels are small-scale and locally-owned but now there are a few larger hotels and there are many more projects being planned, especially all-inclusive resorts. Many of these are foreign-owned. Carriacou has mainly small guest houses and secluded intimate resorts and Petite Martinique has been barely touched by tourism.

Music and Dance

The main types of music popular in Grenada are calypso and reggae. French Caribbean music known as 'zouk' now seems to be having a strong influence on calypso. There are a few local bands who mainly play on the hotel circuit. Steel pan, originating in neighbouring Trinidad, is a major part of the music scene and is improving in standard all the time. There are also a few drumming groups scattered around the island. There is an annual drum festival held in the village of Tivoli, which is growing in popularity and is attracting international acts. Folk dance/singing groups are trying to keep alive the traditional dances and songs. Carnival is celebrated in Grenada on the second weekend of August every year and in Carriacou and Petite Martinique at the traditional time of just before Ash Wednesday. There's DJ music, steel pan bands on floats and street parades with brightly-coloured costumes. It is a time of great revelry and fun. There are many traditional characters to look out for, including the Jab Jabs (devils), and Shortknees (like Pierrots). Carriacou has a very particular type of masquerade called Shakespeare Mas which can be seen during their Carnival, where participants recite long stretches of Julius Caesar interspersed with their own tales of bravado. This has been an unbroken tradition for centuries and is one of the oldest forms of masquerading in the Caribbean region.

Carriacou has a very rich tradition of music and dance that has survived the centuries. Carriacou is unique in that it is one of the only places in the African diaspora where people know from which tribal people they are descended. The Big Drum and Nation Dance are drumming and dancing that accompany special events. Nation Dancing is important because it commemorates the link with Carriacouans' African heritage and each tribe, Ibo, Kromanti etc. has its own particular rhythm and dance steps. Easter time is a festive time in Carriacou and the Big Drum is sometimes performed. Some of these traditions have been dying out, and there is now a three day Maroon Festival (normally at the end of April) put in place to revive them among the younger generation. Carriacou and Petite Martinique also have small 'string bands' playing traditional music and dances like the Quadrille have also survived.

Dialect and Folklore

Grenadian people speak Standard English, Grenadian English and a French African patois. Only the older people speak French patios and it has nearly died out. You are most likely to come across it in the rural areas. Grenadian dialect also has many French words. Puzzled by some grammar? If you know any French and you translate it directly then you will be able to understand. Some of the pronounciation of French words is from 200 years ago and even some of the English dates from Shakespearian times. Some of our hosts also speak foreign languages.

Grenadian people speak a particular dialect of English, which differs from Standard English in both grammar and vocabulary. Because of the historical background of the country, many of the differences are due to the influence of the French language. There are French and French-derived words and phrases that pepper the dialect, often with words pronounced in the way there were hundreds of years ago. There are old English words still used that have since changed their meaning in other English-speaking areas, such as the use of ‘hand’ and ‘foot’ for the whole of the arm or leg. You may even hear words from Shakespearian times, like ‘sot’! There are a few words and grammatical structures that remain from the different African languages that were spoken, such as Twi. Often there will be three verbs in one sentence, and singular nouns are used in place of plurals. Dialect varies according to social class, age, and geographical location.

Most people also speak Standard English, and will most likely use it to address you as a foreigner. When speaking with each other, they will use dialect, which may have you feeling a little lost until you tune in! Because of this, when people read Standard English from a book, they may sound a little stilted, as the words do not reflect their natural cadence. Although the general level of literacy is high, be aware that not everyone is fully or confidently literate, so be sensitive to any reluctance or hesitation, if you are giving them written information, or asking them to write something down for you. The most common learning style is imitation in a holistic manner, rather than breaking everything down to its elements in order to build it back up again. The Caribbean countries inherited a strong oral tradition, where history is handed down from generation to generation. Storytelling is an art form, shown in the drama inherent in passing on a piece of gossip!

Grenada, and especially Carriacou is full of folklore. Many of the traditional customs are dying out, thanks to TV and more recently Cable TV but if you are lucky you may catch a moonlit cook-up with storytelling of Anancy the spider trickster (from West Africa) and tales of the 'La Diablesse' (devil-woman), Ligaroo (Loupgaroux means werewolf in French) and many other supernatural events and characters.

Cultural norms

  • Greetings – Grenadian people like their greetings. You will get a much better response if you preface an initial enquiry with a cheerful and polite “Good morning”, “Good day”, etc. When you pass someone on the street, it is considered polite to greet them, or at least nod your head in recognition. You may find some people saying “Okay”, “Alright” or simply “Yeah”, in way of acknowledgement. If you are about to enter someone’s home, you are expected to call out their name or simply “Hello” or “Good morning” etc., when you are within earshot. If someone has a gate, it would normally be considerate to wait outside the gate and call and then be asked inside. There are no doorbells in Grenada!
  • Courtesy – “Please” and “Thank you” are always appreciated.
  • Diplomacy – People are quite open and frank about certain matters, and very diplomatic and discreet about others. There is a certain reticence about sharing personal matters with a stranger, and questions about someone’s profession or family life are not generally used as ice breakers in a social setting. You are better off asking questions about more impersonal topics. If someone wants to look as if they are paying you proper attention they will have a serious face rather than a smile. On the other hand, Caribbean people use humour to rise above difficult and sad times.
  • Photographs – Do not take photographs of people because you think they look interesting, with no regard for whether the person would like to end up in your photo album. You should always ask permission, and let people know if you intend to use their images on the internet.
  • Clothing – Revealing clothing, like very short ‘hot pants’ and swimwear is not tolerated in public areas like shops and banks. Local people appreciate neatness and cleanliness when it comes to dressing, and you will be respected more if your clothes are clean and ironed neatly. Before entering someone’s home, notice if shoes are taken off before entering or worn inside the house. It is best to copy the example left for you, though if the person is being especially polite, they will tell you not to bother. Grenadian people have two wardrobes, ‘home clothes’ and ‘going out clothes’. Church goers wear suits and ties and glamorous dresses. Pre-teen and teenage girls are encouraged to dress modestly – hence the three quarter length school skirts. There are no nude beaches, and topless bathing is frowned upon.
  • Cleanliness- As they say here ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness.’ The passion for good hygiene extends to good bodily hygiene and the regular washing of hands. You would be looked at rather askew if you did not wash your hands before picking up a baby, or taking something to eat. In the same vein, do not be offended if a local person does not accept your gift of food or drink, especially if it is home-cooked. They would have to know you fairly well to feel comfortable doing this. If someone says they are ‘good’, or ‘alright’ that means they have had enough or they don’t want any. There is a high premium placed on perfectly washed dishes! When you have finished drinking from a glass, your host will take your glass from you, or you can offer it up to them to take away, rather than placing it down on a floor.
  • Touching – Shaking hands is acceptable. Unless you know someone very well, slapping or patting them on the back or shoulder is not taken for the friendly message that it might be intended to be. Parents will not appreciate you patting their children on the head or touching them in any way, unless you have got to know them fairly well. Men and women do not normally kiss when meeting, and public displays of affection are uncommon. Men and women often voluntarily segregate in social settings. Homosexuality is still illegal and not generally accepted, so obvious displays of affection between same-sex couples are not suggested.

Traditional beliefs

Health - One enduring attitude to the prevention of ailments refers to the careful sequencing of touching hot and cold objects. If someone has been ironing or cooking for instance, they are loath to place their hands in a fridge or cold water immediately after. Tasks are deliberately sequenced or spaced to avoid this. There is a vast repository of knowledge pertaining to what is locally referred to as ‘bush’ or herbal medicine. Especially in rural areas and amongst the older generation, herbal medicine is the first choice of those with minor ailments.

Psychology – Although no longer a coherent system constituting a religion, strands of West African religious thought and practice have remained, and this means that the cause of a misfortune or illness is sometimes perceived to result from the malevolence of a victim’s enemy.

Preventing the embarrassment of others

Concepts of time and ‘saving face’ – “Anytime” is “Caribbean time”. People have a flexible attitude to time. Someone might tell you they are going to be there at 2 o’clock, and that could easily become 4 o’clock. To prevent impatience and a certain sense of bewilderment, you are advised not to worry if someone says they are coming, and they don’t show up at all. Sometimes the person has genuinely been held up or called away, and will spontaneously turn up at another time. At times, however, when the arrangement was made, the other party may have enthusiastically agreed, but had no intention of coming. They may have felt embarrassed or awkward to be seen to saying no to a request, and to save face, they may have agreed with no intention of following through.

Keeping confidences and ‘people’s business’ – If you inspire a certain level of trust, people may share confidential information about their personal affairs with you. They may consider certain pieces of information fairly private, and would be upset to hear you sharing that information with others in their community. This could be something that you would expect them to have already shared with others, but this may not be the case. People are especially private about their financial affairs.

Clothes - Generally people do not like to be seen accepting second-hand objects, especially clothes. If you make a donation of second-hand clothes, the more discreet you are in the distribution, the better. It is not common practice for people to borrow clothes from one another.

Bags – Grenadian people do not carry objects, like groceries, in their hands. Be aware that most people are private about what they buy, and prefer to put purchases or gifts in opaque bags, away from inquisitive eyes. When giving someone a gift, it is appreciated if you give it to them in a clean, opaque bag.

Arguing- Diplomacy aside, raised voices are not uncommon. People are fairly uninhibited in many ways, including expressing feelings in a discussion or misunderstanding. You may observe people shouting loudly at each other, but it often seems much worse than it actually is. The dispute often dies down pretty quickly and once people have got things off their chest, they continue as before. Conversely, there is a strong tradition of ‘the silent treatment’ of a person who is considered to have treated you badly or unfairly. This may be resolved, or may run into the next generation!

Attitude to animals – Compared to what you may be used to, you may find that the attitude to animals is harsh and uncaring. Dogs are often used as guard dogs, rather than pets, which means that they may be chained up most of the time. The majority of dogs and cats are unspayed, with the resulting problem of numerous stray animals eking out a meagre existence. If you want to make any inroads here in terms of education, efforts must always be made in a respectful and calm manner, without creating embarrassment. There is a great fear of snakes, but there are no poisonous snakes in Grenada. The hunting of ‘wild meat’ is common, such as iguanas and manicou (opposums), even though some of these animals are endangered.

Children and the Family - Grenada has a very youthful population. Children are generally cherished and welcome in most social events. However, children in a family are expected to pull their weight and help with the household chores, light shopping etc. They are expected to be polite and obedient to their elders, and disciplining of children is considered to be a community, not just a family, affair. Discipline is authoritarian and often involves the use of corporal punishment, both at school and at home. The extended family structure is still the norm, often with female headed households, due to absent fathers. Most young people live at home with their parents for a long time, whether they have children or their own or not.

Women – it is fairly unusual to see women smoking or drinking large quantities of alcohol. Women entering a rum shop should be aware that this is traditionally a men’s preserve, although the owner may be a woman. You may see women of the older generation with a pipe. Men call out to women on the street with various epithets of affection. This is not meant to offend, but you would be advised to ignore it if you don’t want to attract further attention. Men make a hissing noise, called ‘soupsing’, which is another way of expressing interest, and trying to attract attention! People of the opposite sex do not converse as much as in other countries, and you will find that women are generally expected to spend time in other women’s company, and the same for men.

Responsibility

Bargaining – Haggling is not the norm in Grenada. Normally you are expected to pay the price that is asked. Always check that the price is in Eastern Caribbean (E.C.) dollars. If you feel like you are being charged too high a price, you can say so, or politely walk away. The response depends on the personality of the vendor! It is very likely you will be charged a bit more than a local person, as the vendor perceives you as being better off that the average Grenadian. Tipping is not necessarily expected, but is always appreciated.

Buying Illegal goods – Drugs, including marijuana, are illegal, and carry stiff sentences. Do not buy products made from turtles or black coral. Do not buy objects discovered in an archeological dig – you are depriving the young people of the island of their heritage.

Buying local products – During your stay, it makes sense to eat as many locally produced foods as you can. Not only will it be cheaper, you gain a real understanding of Grenadian cuisine, lessening your carbon footprint and contributing to the local economy.

Begging - It is best not to give children money as gifts, as they will grow to expect handouts from visitors. Homelessness is very rare in Grenada, but they are a few people with drug and alcohol problems who may ask you for money. Giving them your small change will help to fuel this habit. If they say they want to buy food with it, you are better off buying the food and giving them this directly. It would be better if you are able to donate books and educational equipment.

Recycling and garbage – There are very limited recycling facilities in Grenada at the moment. However, try to set a good example to our young people by being creative about reusing your ‘waste’ in some way. Littering is unfortunately still fairly commonplace, so education in this area is welcome.

Resources and the household - Please be careful with resources, especially if you are staying in someone’s home. Please turn off the shower while soaping, to conserve water, esp. in Carriacou and Petite Martinique which currently rely solely on rain water. During a heavy rain shower the rain flies into windows very easily, so it’s a good idea to remember to close windows in case of rain before you go out.

Promises- Don’t make promises that you can’t keep, whether it’s keeping in touch, sending photographs or other goods. It is better to surprise someone after you have left, than create expectations that cannot be fulfilled. If you do intend to keep in contact, figure out an easy way doing so.

Useful laws of which to be aware

  • Homosexuality is illegal – as already stated.
  • Abortion is illegal.
  • Pornography is uncommon and frowned upon. Sex with a minor (under 16) is illegal.
  • Camouflage gear of any kind is prohibited, as are toy guns (including water guns in the shape of actual guns). The police have recently become strict about prohibiting baggy trousers worn with a low or no belt. Men wearing sleeveless shirts can be turned away from places like the general hospital or upmarket bars or nightclubs.
  • Drugs, including marijuana are prohibited. There are stiff fines and jail sentences for use, possession and trafficking.

Health issues and facilities

  • Dengue fever has been reported in Grenada but is very rare. There are no cases of malaria. The Caribbean area is known for having fairly high rates of HIV infection. Getting vaccinated against tetanus and rabies before you come might be a good idea. Stay away from mongooses, as they have been known to carry rabies.
  • There are three hospitals in Grenada, the General Hospital in St.George’s, the small Princess Alice Hospital in Mirabeau, St.Andrew’s, and the Princess Royal Hospital in Belair, Carriacou. There are small, primary-care Health Centres in all parishes, including Petite Martinique. Emergency vaccinations are available from the nurses at the Health Centres. Cash payments need to be made at the hospital, unless it is routine emergency treatment.
  • Water is routinely chlorinated, and safe to drink. Bottled water is readily available.
  • There are no decompression chambers in Grenada. The nearest one is in Barbados or Trinidad.

Useful numbers

  • General Hospital, St.George’s 440 2050
  • Princess Alice Hospital, Mirabeau 442 7251
  • Princess Royal Hospital, Carriacou 443 7400
  • St.Augustine’s Private Hospital, St.Paul’s 440 6173
  • Old Trafford Medical Services, Tanteen, St.George’s 440 7780

Money and Banking

The Eastern Caribbean dollar (E.C. dollar) is tied to the US dollar at a rate of 2.67 to 1. You may find the rate fluctuates between 2.6 and 2.7 depending on where you change or use your US dollars. Personal bank cheques in another currency take 6 weeks to clear. Banks are open from 8AM-3PM Mon-Thurs, 8AM-5PM. There are ATMs open 24 hrs, outside most banks and at the airport. US bills are sometimes accepted, especially in the major shopping centres in St.George’s and Grand Anse, but your change will be in EC dollars. There are various Western Union outlets dotted around the island. You will need photo ID to send and receive money.

Climate

The climate is generally hot and humid, especially during the rainy season. Temperatures generally range from 27 degrees to 32 degrees Celsius. Light cotton clothing is adequate, with a light sweater in case of cool evenings around Christmas time. Long trousers are useful both for hiking and for formal occasions. The rainy season runs typically from May through November, and the dry season from December through April. Grenada does not get routinely battered by hurricanes, but since hurricane Ivan in 2004 and hurricane Emily 2005 had such a devastating impact on the infrastructure and agriculture, disaster preparedness is taken much more seriously. There is a series of designated shelters throughout the tri-island state.

Mosquitoes and other pests

Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, as can the tiny sand flies that frequent the country areas. There are centipedes that can give a painful bite, but they are not particularly dangerous. The black ants can also give an annoying bite. There are wasps, known locally as ‘marabone’which can also give a painful sting. Look out for small green ‘apple-like fruits’ known as ‘manchineel’. They grow on beaches on the trees, and if they get anywhere near your mouth they will blister you very badly as they are highly acidic. Do not sit directly under a coconut tree if there are coconuts on it, as they may fall off and knock you unconscious at the very least.

Personal safety

Grenada is generally a safe destination, especially Carriacou and Petite Martinique. You may need to be careful in St.George’s and Grand Anse and lonely areas, particularly after dark. There have been some incidents of robbery at the Sulphur Spring in Claboney, St.Andrew's.

There are not always adequate sidewalks, so you may end up walking on the side of the road. Drivers drive on the left hand side of the road, but sometimes have to swerve to avoid potholes. Bus drivers can be a little reckless with their driving, especially with regard to speed. If you drive a vehicle locally, you must have a local licence, available from police stations and car rental agencies, which costs EC$30 for three months.

Shopping

Shopping hours in St.George’s are 8PM to 4PM Monday to Friday, and 8AM to 1PM on Saturday. Grenville has extended hours on a Saturday, and the streets and shops are lively until the early evening. The shops in the malls in Grand Anse are open later, from 9 or 10AM to 5 to 7 PM, or sometimes even later. On Sundays almost all shops are closed, except for Real Value Supermarket in the Spiceland Mall, Grand Anse that opens from 10AM to 6PM. There are also a few small community shops that open until 9PM, selling basic goods and liquor. The fruit and vegetable markets are open very early, from about 5AM.

The postal service in Grenada is fairly efficient. The Grenada Postal Corporation in Burns Point, St.George’s, is open from 8AM to 4PM Monday through Thursday and 8AM to 4:30PM Friday. There are also courier services like Fedex and DHL.

Other facts

Electricity outlets are almost always 220v, so UK appliances work just fine. American appliances work on 110v, so would need a transformer to prevent your electrical gadgets from getting wrecked. Some homes are wired for both voltages. The time in Grenada is -4 GMT. The country dialing code is +473.

Emergency numbers

Police and Fire Brigade 911

Ambulance (St.George’s) 434

Ambulance (St.Andrew’s) 724

Ambulance (Carriacou) 774

Ambulance waiting times can vary.

Embassies

The American Embassy is situated in L’Anse aux Epines, St.George’s. Contact numbers are 444 1173/4/5 (phone) 444 4820 (fax) and 407 2495 (emergency)

Checklist of things to bring

  • Prescription medication
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunhat
  • High SPF sunscreen
  • Swimsuit
  • Light rain jacket
  • Umbrella
  • Hiking boots
  • Long pants
  • Mosquito repellent

Importation of goods – Allowances and Restrictions

  • 50 cigars/200 cigarettes/1/2 lb tobacco
  • One quart of liquor or wine
  • No fruit, vegetables, meat or soil
  • No recreational drugs
  • No firearms or ammunition

If you are planning on bringing a pet with you, you would need health documents, an import permit, and contact with the Government Veterinary Officer before arrival.

Exportation of goods – Restrictions

  • No exportation of bark, wildlife or coral

Further information can be obtained from the following:

Grenada Customs and Excise Department

  • Carenage, St.George’s 440 2239
  • Maurice Bishop International Airport 444 4137
  • Grenville and Carriacou 417 6093

EVENTS 2010

May 24 Whit Monday. Protestant Christian national holiday.

June 3 Corpus Christi. Catholic Christian national holiday

June 4-6 Rock D Spice music festival. 2nd annual music festival with local and regional acts - venues island-wide.

June 29 Fisherman's Birthday Gouyave, St.John's. Annual street party in the town of Gouyave, 'the town that never sleeps', well-known for its fishing industry. Commemorates the June 29th Feast day of St. Peter and St. Paul, with boat races, fishing displays and celebrations.

26 July - 3 Aug Carriacou Regatta. See the locally built workboats set sail every year at the Carriacou Regatta. Participants from Tobago, Grenada, Canouan, Mayreau, Bequia (Grenadines), Petite Martinique and Antigua take part in the Caribbean race.

"More Race, More Fun, in the Carriacou Sun" is the Carriacou Regatta's slogan. Unusual supporting activities include donkey racing, greasy pole, wet T-shirt and Aquaval Queen shows.

August 2 Emancipation Day. Celebrating the end of slavery.

August 2 Rainbow City Festival, Grenville. Arts and crafts, music, cultural performances, street dancing and the best of the local cuisine in Grenville.

August 9-10 Carnival Monday and Tuesday have parades of bands in costume, revelling around the main towns.

From very early Monday morning, is 'J'ouvert' in all main towns. Look out for the jabjabs (devil mas), other traditional masqueraders and political satirists, dancing to drums and steel pans, and soca music. Watch out for the Jabjabs, the 'devil mas', who are painted black and other colours. On Monday afternoon you can see the masqueraders in brightly coloured costumes, called "pretty mas". Monday evening is "Monday Night Mas" where local businesses sponsor bands in their own logos. Tuesday has bands in full costume once more, ending off with a "Last Lap" around the town until midnight.

See www.spicemas.com and www.Summercrew2000.com for full Carnival schedule.

August 13 Caribbean Laugh Festival (comedy), Trade Centre, Morne Rouge, St.George's.

October 25 Thanksgiving Day Public Holiday commemorating the American Intervention of 1983. Look out for regular weekly cultural events on Friday evenings at 5:00 PM the National Museum, St.George's.

November TTSA Carriacou Sailing Series

December 17-20 Carriacou Parang Festival.

Nature

There is a rainforest reserve, protected by the government, of 3,800 acres, in the centre of the island (the Grand Etang area). The rainforest has been modified by extensive felling in the nineteenth century and is mostly secondary growth. There are some mangrove swamps, mainly at Levera Pond in the north-east and on the south coast. In Carriacou there is a wonderfully preserved mangrove system with many birds at Petit Carenage Bay. Grenada has excellent fertile soil which means almost anything can grow. The Northern part of the island is particularly lush and scenic. Since hurricane Ivan in September 2004, there has been extensive damage, but there are some encouraging signs of regrowth.

Carriacou and Petite Martinique become extremely dry in the dry season and most of the flora is then reduced to dry scrub and cactus. Carriacou has been heavily deforested for sugar, cotton and then lime production, contributing to its low rainfall. In the place of forest grows sea grape, manchineel and coconut.

Grenada has five species unique to the island. These are: The Grenada Dove, our National bird remaining habitat was recently threatened by a new hotel project. For more details visit www.grenadadovecampaign.com which is partly spearheaded by the Canadian author Margaret Atwood. With the help of public pressure, a compromise has been reached, and we hope the Grenada Dove will thrive. The other four are: a sub-species of snake, a weevil, the Mountain Cabbage Palm and a Grand Etang Fern.

You are likely to see toads (locally referred to as 'crapaud') crossing the road in the night time, hear the piping frogs singing along with the crickets. There are many different types of lizards and geckos. There are also iguanas (a beautiful turquoise colour - but increasingly rare due to hunting). Grenada is said to have four different types of snakes (none of which is poisonous) but are rarely seen today.

There are 150 species of birds in Grenada and the Grenadines, primarily North American in origin. Grenada performs an important function as a migration stop off point from North America.

The armadillo and two types of opposum are found here. One opposum is known as a manicou and is hunted for meat along with the armadillo. The African Mona monkeys came from Africa during the slave trade and are seen in the forests. Since the destruction of many of the rainforest trees during hurricane Ivan, they have been frequenting the residential area of L'Anse aux Epines in the SW of the island.

Turtles can be seen laying their eggs on the beaches at certain times of year. Ocean Spirits in Levera, St.Patrick's and KIDO in Carriacou both run volunteer turtle conservation programmes. Please don't buy any products made from turtles.

Humpback whales and dolphins can be seen off the coast. Do support the whale and dolphin watching initiatives, like First Impressions Ltd. in Grand Anse. Grenada is one of many Caribbean countries that supports Japan in overturning the moratorium on commercial whaling, but hopefully whale watching will win out as the choice that makes sense both economically and ethically.

Cuisine

Grenada being the 'Isle of Spice', it is expected that the cuisine uses plenty of spices, nutmeg, bay leaf, allspice, capsicum, pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, clove and ginger. Grenadians like to use hot pepper sauce as an accompaniment and some good varieties are available for sale. Chicken dishes are popular, especially barbeque, and fish (fresh local fish and salted cod). Crab and callaloo (a spinach-like vegetable) is a speciality as is oil-down, a stew with coconut, breadfruit, vegetables and often pork or fish. Rice and peas and ground provisions (yams, tannias, sweet potatoes) are popular. Fresh fruit and local fruit juices are easily available. We can accommodate vegetarian diets so please let us know in advance if this is what you need.
Back to homepage

© Homestays Grenada, 1999-2010